"Pat Murphy Of Meagher's Brigade", also known as "Pat Murphy Of The Irish Brigade" or "Song Of The Splintered Shillelagah", is a song that comes from the American Civil War. The song tells the story of a "Patrick Murphy" who serves under the command of Brig. Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher in the Irish Brigade of the Union Army. Murphy serves to illustrate the plight of the Irish in the Civil War.
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'Twas the night before battle and, gathered in groups, <br> The soldiers lay close at their quarters,<br> A-thinking, no doubt, of their loved ones at home<br> Of mothers, wives, sweethearts and daughters.<br>
With a pipe in his mouth sat a handsome young blade,<br> And a song he was singing so gaily,<br> His name was Pat Murphy of Meagher's Brigade<br> And he sang of the land of Shillelagh.<br>
Said Pat to his comrades, it looks quare to see<br> Brothers fighting in such a strange manner;<br> But I'll fight 'til I die, If I never get killed<br> For America's bright starry banner.<br>
Far away in the west rode a dashing young blade<br> And the song he was singing so gaily,<br> 'Twas honest Pat Murphy of the Irish Brigade<br> And the song of the splintered shillelagh.<br>
Well, morning soon broke and poor Paddy awoke<br> He found rebels to give satisfaction<br> And the drummer was beating the Devil's sad tune<br> They were calling the troops into action.<br>
Far away in the west rode a dashing young blade<br> And the song he was singing so gaily,<br> 'Twas honest Pat Murphy of the Irish Brigade<br> And the song of the splintered shillelagh.<br>
Then the Irish Brigade into battle was seen, <br> Their blood for the cause shedding freely<br> With their bayonet charges they rushed on the foe<br> With a shout for the land of shillelagh.<br>
Far away in the west rode a dashing young blade<br> And the song he was singing so gaily,<br> 'Twas honest Pat Murphy of the Irish Brigade<br> And the song of the splintered shillelagh.<br>
The day after battle, the dead lay in heaps<br> And Paddy lay bleeding and gory,<br> With a hole in his breast where some enemy's ball<br> Had ended his passion for glory,<br>
No more in the camps will his letters be read<br> Nor his voice be heard singing so gaily<br> For he died far away from the friends that he loved<br> And far from the land of shillelagh.<br>
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Other lyrics include-
<blockquote> Then, surely, Columbia can never forget,<br /> While valor and fame hold communion,<br /> How nobly the brave Irish Volunteers fought,<br /> In defense of the flag of our Union:<br /> And, if ever Old Ireland for freedom should strike,<br /> We'll a helping hand offer quite freely:<br /> And the Stars and the Stripes shall be seen alongside,<br /> Of the Flag of the Land of Shillaly! </blockquote>